Book Release: Baskets & the female artisans of Senegal

Perhaps you spent last weekend spring cleaning, one hand dusting (I mean, how often are you supposed to do that?!), the other pinning like crazy, modelling your perfect living room albeit virtually. Or maybe your weekend jaunts around the shops include a dream like wander around Anthropologie? Well, interiors mad babe, this one is for you.

Basketry is considered one of the world’s oldest crafts and it’s back – in a big way. At the forefront of the trend is La Basketry, co-founded by Tabara N’Diaye. In fact, she’s just completed a beautifully bound book, Baskets (out 2nd May through Quadrille) all about the craft including stunning inspirational imagery and craft projects. We shared a pot of tea with her to find out more…

HOC: Lovely to meet you, Tabara. How do you go from owning a business to publishing your own book?

Tabara: I started La Basketry in May 2017 as a homeware brand offering baskets and home accessories handmade by a group of female artisans in a village outside of my parents’ hometown in Senegal but also as a platform to shine a light on basket-weaving – one of the world’s oldest crafts practised in pretty much every civilisation around the world.

Baskets have been (and still are!) having a moment over the past few years and I think the launch of the brand came at the right time. A couple of summers ago, I was approached by Quadrille Publishing who could see the popularity of baskets and was interested in my personal story, links to Senegal and the fact that I can weave baskets.

Although ‘Baskets’ is very different to La Basketry, I still see it as an extension of the brand and of my mission. The book delves into the history of basketry around the world and features some great craft projects like making your own basket bag or a plant hanger.

HOC: Tell us about a recent ‘Girl Boss’ moment you had on the journey to completing this book?

Tabara: Holding the first copy of ‘Baskets’ was such a great moment. I’m also particularly excited about the French edition of the book being released this Autumn as this means I’ll be able to take the book to Senegal and share it with my extended family and the artisans.

HOC: Tell us more about Senegal, if some of our readers were planning to visit Senegal, where should they start?

Tabara: Instagram is a great resource to find the best places to go to in Senegal. Some of my favourite feeds include @dakarlives , @spiritedpursuit / @aldidiasse and some very boutique hotels like @tama_lodge or @lavillamaisondhotes are also worth a stay!

Senegalese people are super friendly so don’t hesitate to reach out to people on Instagram for tips – I think it’s the best way to travel when you get insight tips from locals.

I get asked for so many travel tips so over the next year this is an area I really want to focus on by putting some city guides together and start organising trips that would take you to Ngaye Mkeke where our artisans are based and give you a full-on experience.

Tabara’s book ‘Baskets’ is out on 2nd May and available to pre-order on Amazon Worldwide at http://smarturl.it/baskets

Related

A chronic over researcher, Anna is the one who will sniff out all the unusual things to do at a destination and create a spreadsheet of options so there's no FOMO. Less likely to be spotted at an infinity pool, Anna will be finding dive bars, flea markets, 3rd wave coffee shops and chatting with locals to find out what they get up to...and sharing that intel here as part of #TeamCoco.